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“Let’s just go, Ms. Hyun-soo.”
“Go?”
“Yes. Getting involved with people like that will only bring headaches. My gut tells me so.”
“But still, he almost got hit…”
“He didn’t, though. Meeting nasty people like that ruins your whole day. Let’s hurry and leave.”
“…Alright.”
Since Hoseok, the person who nearly got hit, was brushing it off, Hyun-soo had no choice but to follow along. After glancing one last time at the tinted black car, she crossed the street with Hoseok.
Vrooom.
The car, which had been idling momentarily, finally drove off after another vehicle approached from behind.
“By the way, I never expected to see such a car around here.”
“It must belong to someone from out of town. No one around here drives that recklessly.”
“That’s true.”
Hyun-soo nodded in agreement. By now, they had reached the bus stop.
“We’re here. Thank you for walking me. You should go now.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Um, Ms. Hyun-soo.”
“Yes?”
Just as she thought he was about to leave, Hoseok called out awkwardly, stopping her. Curious, Hyun-soo adjusted the strap of her bag and met his gaze.
“Today was unintentionally embarrassing for me. Take care!”
Before she could respond—insisting it wasn’t his fault—the flustered Hoseok turned and dashed toward the parking lot in front of the health center.
“I hope things don’t get awkward because of this.”
Hyun-soo lifted her wrist to check the time. The bus would arrive soon.
Without hesitation, she entered the small supermarket next to the bus stop. As if following a routine, she picked up a cold can of beer and a bag of snacks, paid, and left. Stuffing them into her bag, she tucked her windblown hair behind her ears.
She hadn’t been waiting long when the bus finally arrived.
The small rural bus trundled along the road alongside vast green fields. Hyun-soo opened the window, letting the breeze wash over her face. The sensation of the wind grazing her skin was indescribably pleasant, stirring a vague premonition that something good might happen soon.
Lost in the view of the verdant plains, the bus eventually reached the entrance of the countryside village where Hyun-soo lived. She stepped off the bus, knowing that her home was just a 15-minute walk away.
Over a year ago, during her search for a place to stay, Hyun-soo had ultimately refused the jeweler’s offer to buy her wedding ring. Instead, she sold a bracelet she had been wearing—a gift from Chairman Yoon on their wedding day.
Moved by Hyun-soo’s plight, the jeweler had generously appraised the bracelet. Even so, the money wasn’t enough to afford a studio apartment or villa in town. Thus, she ended up renting a house in this rural village.
The house had been vacant for years, so it took nearly two weeks of scrubbing and cleaning before it became livable. But once the cleaning was done, it turned out to be quite cozy, leaving her feeling proud and satisfied.
Beyond the house itself, another reason Hyun-soo grew fond of Seodong-myeon was its kind neighbors.
Despite her sudden appearance, as if dropped from the sky, the villagers welcomed her warmly. They showed no judgment as her pregnancy progressed, instead showering her with care and affection. Naturally, the child born was full of laughter and love.
Because of all this, Hyun-soo had grown to love the village. She felt attached to it and believed she could happily spend the rest of her life there.
Walking down a sunlit path, she began to feel the heat. Nearing the village, she pulled the cold beer can from her bag and pressed it against her cheek. The icy chill instantly cooled her neck, soothing the lingering warmth. As she walked, enjoying the relief, she turned a corner.
“Huh?”
Approaching her house, something caught her eye.
“Is that…?”
Was her vision playing tricks on her?
Parked right in front of her house was the same black car she’d seen earlier.
Could it belong to a relative of a neighbor? Keeping her eyes fixed on the car, Hyun-soo inserted her key into the gate lock. Suddenly, she noticed the door was already slightly ajar. Her spine tingled with unease. Could it be a burglar…?
Frozen in place for a moment, Hyun-soo cautiously pushed the door open and stepped inside. The narrow yard and house were eerily silent, as if drenched in cold water.
Surveying the surroundings, she furrowed her brow in confusion. Everything seemed untouched, just as she’d left it. But…
“…”
There was one difference: a pair of unfamiliar shoes near the entrance.
Thump-thump-thump. Her heart began to race uncontrollably. The best course of action would have been to turn back and call the police for help. Hyun-soo knew this well. Yet, inexplicably, her feet moved on their own, carrying her toward the living room.
Creak… creak… creak…
At that moment, a faint but distinct sound emanated from the bedroom. It was an old, shrill noise. Instinctively, Hyun-soo headed in that direction.
Her palm, clutching the beer can, was now numb with cold. Ignoring the stinging sensation, she paused at the door and steadied her breathing. Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—the door was slightly ajar.
“…”
Swallowing her trembling breath, Hyun-soo peeked through the narrow gap.
Sure enough, someone was sitting in her desk chair.
But strangely, the figure looked familiar…
“Until when do you plan to spy?”
What?
The seated person, seemingly aware of Hyun-soo’s presence, stood up and strode toward her. With a swift motion, they yanked the door wide open.
“It’s been a while.”
The greeting sent the beer can tumbling from Hyun-soo’s hand. Clang—it echoed through the house.
His face, achingly familiar, stared back at her.
But too much had piled up, clogging the entrance like stagnant water. Hyun-soo couldn’t form a response, her lips trembling uselessly.
“Why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?”
“…”
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen my wife. Shouldn’t you greet me?”
“How… how did you find me here?”
“I guess you didn’t realize. Wherever you are, I’ll find you.”
With those words, Guk smiled gently. His gaze shifted to the photographs hanging on the wall beside the door—pictures of Hyun-soo and her son, Wan.
“You’ve been smiling and living well, I see.”
Guk tapped the frame lightly with his finger.
“Even without me.”
His piercing gaze returned to Hyun-soo.
“Right?”
Unable to speak, Hyun-soo clamped her mouth shut. Fear gripped her heart, wondering if he would interrogate her about the child. After a moment of hesitation, she swallowed hard and managed to speak.
“I was thinking I needed to meet you at some point.”
“Oh?”
“Yes.”
“For what reason?”
“There are unresolved matters between us.”
Guk tilted his head slightly. His smile had long vanished.
“I hope this isn’t leading where I think it is.”
“Our marriage ended long ago. I want to settle things legally.”
A tense silence sliced through the air between them.
“So…”
“You already know. Why keep asking…?”
“Say it yourself.”
“…Do you really want me to say it?”
“Yes.”
“I want a divorce. I want to end this.”
Guk let out a derisive chuckle, attempting to cover his smirk with his hand. But between his long fingers, his twisted lips were visible.
“That’s not going to happen.”
“What?”
“I have no intention of letting you go.”
“Why…?! This marriage is just a shell! What more do you want from this hollow life?!”
“You.”
His short, firm reply froze Hyun-soo in place.
“I want to keep you.”
“Don’t say that. I don’t want to hear it.”
“…”
“I don’t want any part of it anymore, Yoon Guk.”
Shaking her head, Hyun-soo took a step back. Guk advanced a step closer.
“What exactly do you hate so much?”
“You. And everything related to you.”
“But why are you trembling then?”
Perhaps Hyun-soo sensed, deep down, that no matter what she said, it wouldn’t sway him. Yet, despite her resistance, she couldn’t bring herself to accept his attempts to comfort her.
As Guk reached out to touch her, Hyun-soo flinched, shrinking back.
“Don’t come near me.”
“…”
“I hate it.”
In that instant, she was yanked forward, her vision spinning. Guk had grabbed her and pinned her against the wall. The impact made her wince, and she struggled to open her eyes.
“You hate it?”
“…”
“Only hate?”
“…Yes.”
It was surreal to see Yoon Guk standing right in front of her. Whether long or short, the past year had felt like enough time to erase him from her life. Yet, staring into his endlessly dark pupils, she felt as though she’d been hurled back to a year ago—as if nothing had changed, as if she’d never escaped.
Her heart pounded wildly as Guk gripped her shoulders with crushing force. Slowly, his fingers traced her nape and cheek, sending shivers down her spine. The sensation was tender yet suffocating—but she couldn’t endure it.
“Stay away from me.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Go… away!”
Hyun-soo pushed him with all her strength, thrashing to break free, but he didn’t budge an inch.
“It’s been a year and three months. A year and three months since my pregnant wife disappeared. Do you think anyone could resist touching her again?”
“It’s not about resisting. You’re just doing whatever you want, as usual.”
“…”
“What do you hate so much? Is it this? That I control everything? Your life, your choices—all of it belongs to me!”
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